Govt to develop Gauribidanur, Dharwad, Harohalli as industrial hubs
Senior Congress leader and Babaleshwara MLA M.B.Patil is taking a lot of steps to promote industries in Karnataka. He successfully conducted Global Investors Meet (GIM) in Bengaluru which secured commitments totaling Rs 10.27 lakh crore. In a Q&A with Shyam Sundar Vattam, Bureau Chief of Mysuru, City Hilights, a state English daily newspaper, Patil shared his vision for Karnataka to make it number one in the country.
Excerpts
City Hilights: What steps have been initiated to attract investments in Karnataka? In the last two years how much investment has come to the state?
M.B.Patil: The Government of Karnataka has introduced a suite of investor-friendly policies, streamlined procedural clearances, and bolstered infrastructure to make the state a premier business destination. Key measures include the Karnataka Industrial Policy 2025–30, which offers tailored incentives for high-tech and green manufacturing; a revamped digital Single Window System that aims to consolidate over 170 services into one portal for faster approvals; the development of sector-specific industrial clusters (such as EV, pharma, solar and drone parks); and proactive global outreach through roadshows and bilateral engagements. In the Global Investors Meet, Karnataka secured commitments totaling ₹10.27 lakh crore, underscoring the impact of these reforms.
To drive deep, sectoral growth, Karnataka has constituted Vision Groups across nine key industries—including Aerospace & Defence, Machine Tools, Electronics System Design & Manufacturing, and Pharmaceuticals—tasked with detailed planning, opportunity mapping and targeted interventions. Looking ahead, the Government has drafted the Clean Mobility Policy 2025–30—benchmarked against leading states and shaped by extensive stakeholder consultation—which aims to attract ₹50,000 crore in investments and create 100,000 new jobs across the electric-vehicle and clean-mobility value chain.
CH: How has the new Industrial policy been helpful in attracting investments to the State? Any plans for upgrading or having revised industrial policy?
Patil: Our new policy has been meticulously crafted through a comprehensive benchmarking exercise across seven leading Indian states and several pioneering global jurisdictions, coupled with in-depth consultations with industry associations, Vision Groups, and departmental experts.
CH: With rapid urbanization, the availability of land has become a big stumbling block. How much land is available in the state land bank and how much more is required?
MB Patil: Karnataka has a robust track record of high-quality industrial infrastructure development. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has already developed over 200 industrial areas, allocating approximately 85,000 acres of land to more than 25,000 industrial units across the state.
CH: Most of the Industrial units want to come up in and around Bengaluru. But that much land is not available in and around the state capital. How will the government tackle this issue?
MB Patil: The government is promoting the development of industrial clusters and economic corridors in cities such as Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Tumakuru, improving connectivity and infrastructure in these cities.
The state will also develop three world-class mobility clusters in Gauribidanur, Dharwad, and Harohalli, integrating OEMs, suppliers, R&D, and testing facilities to boost innovation and manufacturing. Additionally, there are plans underway to develop multiple industrial areas such as Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs).
CH: What steps are taken to promote industries in Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur-Karnataka regions which are quite backward when compared with the south Karnataka region?
MB Patil: The government has undertaken several initiatives to promote industrial development specifically in the Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur-Karnataka regions. Dedicated industrial parks and skill-development centers are being established to stimulate local economies.
Moreover, Karnataka’s New Industrial Policy offers an additional 5% incentives to industries setting up units in the most backward talukas, and an additional 3% for those in more backward talukas, as per the Dr. D.M. Nanjundappa Committee Report.
CH: There are a number of industries, but they are facing a Shortage of skilled laborers. What steps are taken to make them industrially suited employees?
MB Patil: The Government has proactively scaled up its skilling ecosystem through the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), which delivers short-term vocational training to over 60,000 candidates annually under flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane (CMKKY).
CH: Any progress post Global Investors meet held in Bengaluru. How many industries are ready to set up their units here?
MB Patil: The Global Investors Meet (GIM) in Bengaluru has exceeded expectations: of the ₹10.27 lakh crore inked at the event, 41 % —approximately ₹4.24 lakh crore—has already been converted (single window application filed). Marquee commitments include Sansera’s ₹2,150 crore investment in automotive and non-automotive component manufacturing, Epsilon Group’s ₹15,350 crore project for anode and cathode material production, and Emmvee Energy’s ₹5,000 crore solar cell manufacturing facility, among others.
Looking ahead, we are targeting a lead pipeline exceeding ₹1.5 lakh crore, with advanced discussions ongoing with many companies. .
CH: Any plans for the revival of the state-run industries which are on the brink of closure?
MB Patil: The Government of Karnataka has adopted a targeted revival framework for sick, state-run industries, beginning with a comprehensive identification and blueprinting exercise mandated to catalogue loss-making public-sector units and draft tailored revival plans for each entity.
To facilitate fresh investment and operational turnaround, Karnataka amended its industrial land policies to permit the takeover or outright sale of sick units—provided they’ve used at least 51% of their land, operated for two years, and cleared government dues-allowing new entrepreneurs to acquire ready to operate facilities for continued industrial use.
